La Liga – Real Football Manhttp://realfootballman.com
All of the Football, All of the timeFri, 10 Aug 2018 14:00:39 +0000enhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8109674212Can anyone stop Barcelona’s dominance?http://realfootballman.com/football/can-anyone-stop-barcelonas-dominance/
http://realfootballman.com/football/can-anyone-stop-barcelonas-dominance/#commentsTue, 10 Apr 2018 09:00:22 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16598The standards are high at Barcelona. Finishing second in the league last season was not good enough and manager Luis Enrique paid the price. In his place came the untested Ernesto Valverde, whose arrival was followed by the acrimonious departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and the failure to capture Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool. Yet …

]]>The standards are high at Barcelona. Finishing second in the league last season was not good enough and manager Luis Enrique paid the price. In his place came the untested Ernesto Valverde, whose arrival was followed by the acrimonious departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and the failure to capture Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool.

Yet seven months on, Barcelona are once again ruling the roost in Spain. Eleven points clear of Atlético Madrid, they have led the way in the league since their third game of the season and are also through to the final of the Copa del Rey and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Their draw against Roma gives them a great chance of making the semi-finals, and given their current form, Valverde’s team look a good bet in all three competitions for sports fans who enjoy sports betting online.

Valverde has set about one of the most pressurised jobs in football with admirable calm and patience, correcting the imbalance in the team that had crept in under Enrique. Whereas the previous manager had set up the side to feed the front three of Messi, Suárez and Neymar, Valverde has created a more balanced approach, giving Suárez the dominant forward role, easing off on the pressing play, and organising the defence.

He also seems to be adept at getting the best out of his players. Messi, in particular, has been in vintage form, scoring 35 goals in 43 appearances, and giving a series of masterclass performances, including his game-winning effort against Chelsea in the Champions League.

However, other players have also come to the fore. The signing of veteran midfielder Paulinho was not greeted with enthusiasm in Barcelona, but the Brazilian has been a revelation. His work rate and ability to get into the box has taken some of the pressure off the Barcelona forward line and their attacking full-backs, and has added balance to the midfield.

Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé, the replacement for Neymar, has also begun to find his feet. After a series of false starts, he played well in a league game against Málaga before starring in the 3-0 victory over Chelsea in which he helped to create the first goal and scored the second, before making a crucial challenge on Marcos Alonso early in the second half.

With Messi as imperious as ever, Suárez providing a deadly foil and the best of Coutinho yet to come, it is reasonable to ask the question: can anything stop Barça?

The decline of Real Madrid this season has left Barcelona largely unchallenged domestically. That isn’t the case in Europe, of course, and with experienced opponents such as Bayern Munich and Juventus still in the competition, along with in-form and improving teams Liverpool and Manchester City, Barça will be taking nothing for granted. However, there is no doubt that the Catalan giants are back to their best this season and it will take something special to stop them dominating on all fronts, in Europe and in Spain.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/can-anyone-stop-barcelonas-dominance/feed/116598Real Betis vs Barcelona – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/real-betis-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/real-betis-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/#respondMon, 22 Jan 2018 07:21:15 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16310Anything that Real Madrid can do, Barcelona can almost do just as well. Zinedine Zidane’s men hit Deportivo for seven yesterday while the current league leaders had to make do with just five as they eventually made light work of Real Betis. It was definitely a game of two halves last night as Real Betis …

]]>Anything that Real Madrid can do, Barcelona can almost do just as well. Zinedine Zidane’s men hit Deportivo for seven yesterday while the current league leaders had to make do with just five as they eventually made light work of Real Betis.

It was definitely a game of two halves last night as Real Betis managed to withstand Barcelona for 45 minutes before the floodgates opened after the restart. The win last night sees them now sit 11 points clear at the La Liga summit with their unbeaten league record still intact.

It took just before the hour for Barcelona to break the deadlock and it was Ivan Rakitic who slotted home, five minutes later it would be two as Lionel Messi got his first goal of the evening while another five minutes later Luis Suarez ended the game as a contest as he made it 3-0 with his first of the night.

Betis were looking weary at this point but Barcelona still had more in the tank, with 10 minutes remaining Messi scored his second to make it 4-0 while Suarez also managed a brace with just a minute of normal time left. An emphatic win but an emphatic collapse also by the home side.

Then again the result just shows the quality that the table toppers have, no need to panic after 45 minutes as they can simply go up through the gears. Remember this is a side that still has Philippe Coutinho waiting somewhat patiently in the wings to make his debut after joining Liverpool earlier in the month.

It certainly was a day for braces as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and even Nacho all managed seperate two goal hauls yesterday. A day to remember if you are a Barcelona or Real Madrid fan, one to forget if you are a Real Betis or Deportivo fan.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/real-betis-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/feed/016310Real Madrid vs Deportivo – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/real-madrid-vs-deportivo-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/real-madrid-vs-deportivo-match-highlights/#respondMon, 22 Jan 2018 07:10:23 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16300Real Madrid were in seven heaven yesterday after they handed out a thrashing to Deportivo at the Santiago Bernabeu. Zinedine Zidane’s men may well be stuttering this season but they were no such signs of that on Sunday as the La Liga holders smashed their way to victory. It was a day of braces for …

]]>Real Madrid were in seven heaven yesterday after they handed out a thrashing to Deportivo at the Santiago Bernabeu. Zinedine Zidane’s men may well be stuttering this season but they were no such signs of that on Sunday as the La Liga holders smashed their way to victory.

It was a day of braces for Los Blancos as Nacho, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo all picked up a pair of goals each. But what makes the result all the more interesting is the fact that they actually went behind halfway through the first half.

Adrian silenced their home fans on 23 minutes but if anything that would have just woken the Galacticos up as they then played like something resembling a wounded animal that was ready to lash out in retaliation and lash out they did.

Nacho and Gareth Bale would each get their first goals of the day before the break to overturn their deficit and but Real Madrid ahead at half time. From the restart though the home side had it all their own way as they then scored another five unanswered strikes.

First up Bale got his second of the afternoon to make it 3-1 and then Croatian international Luka Modric who subsequently was the only person not to have scored a pair yesterday made it 4-1 to kill off any lingering hopes of a Deportivo comeback.

There was still plenty of time though for Cristiano Ronaldo to get in on the act he scored the fifth and six goals for Real Madrid yesterday while Nacho then bookended all of the goals for his team by making it 7-1 with just two minutes remaining.

An emphatic victory and a much needed one after the recent performances by this side, can they now use this as a springboard to at least salvage something from this season?

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/real-madrid-vs-deportivo-match-highlights/feed/016300Real Sociedad vs Barcelona – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/real-sociedad-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/real-sociedad-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/#respondMon, 15 Jan 2018 07:34:48 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16183After defeat for Manchester City yesterday at Anfield, one that subsequently saw their undefeated start to the season finally come to a close it means that Barcelona are now the only side yet to be defeated in any of the major five European leagues. They extended that run last night but it is fair to …

]]>After defeat for Manchester City yesterday at Anfield, one that subsequently saw their undefeated start to the season finally come to a close it means that Barcelona are now the only side yet to be defeated in any of the major five European leagues.

They extended that run last night but it is fair to say that they had to do it the hard way when they traveled to the Basque Region to face Real Socieded at the Anoeta. Ernesto Valverde’ side started slowly and found themselves behind as early as the 11th minute.

A headed from Willian Jose but the home side ahead and Barcelona who have a tendency to struggle at this ground looked once again set to be in for a long evening in Northern Spain. While their plight worsened 23 minutes later when Juanmi doubled Real Sociedad’s lead.

That was after Willian Jose had the ball in the net but saw a potential second chalked out for offside, Barcelona were well on their heels but they managed to start the fightback before the interval as they managed to half the deficit through Brazilian international Paulinho.

While five minutes after the break they would find themselves level thanks to the first of two Luis Suarez goals, this meant that the Uruguayan has now scored in six consecutive games and his efforts for the night where not done there.

The game was fully turned on its head when Suarez bagged his second of the night to put Barcelona ahead for the first time in the fixture, with 19 minutes remaining the former Liverpool man was on hand to score from Thomas Vermaelen’s header.

And no Barcelona game would be complete without Lionel Messi getting in on the action, the Argentine made sure of victory with five minutes remaining to make it 4-2 and wrap up all three points against Real Sociedad. As they are nine clear at top with Atletico Madrid in second and a staggering 19 points ahead of Real Madrid.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/real-sociedad-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/feed/016183Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/celta-vigo-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/celta-vigo-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/#respondMon, 08 Jan 2018 07:23:53 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16030The pressure continues to mount on Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after his side were held to a 2-2 draw away at Celta Vigo last night, a result that sees the defending La Liga champions now 16 points behind their arch rivals Barcelona. In an evening where Gareth Bale made his long awaited return from …

]]>The pressure continues to mount on Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after his side were held to a 2-2 draw away at Celta Vigo last night, a result that sees the defending La Liga champions now 16 points behind their arch rivals Barcelona.

In an evening where Gareth Bale made his long awaited return from injury, it would be the Welsh international who would get himself on the scoresheet not once but twice, but even a brace from the former Tottenham player was not enough to earn all three points for Los Blancos.

Bale may have been on the double yesterday but it was still the home side who went ahead through Daniel Wass, he was played through by former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas, with the goalscorer lobbing the ball over the on rushing Keylor Navas to then break the deadlock.

However just five minutes later the game would be turned on its head when Bale scored both his goals to put Real Madrid ahead at half time, from there it looked as if the stuttering defending champions would go on and solidify their advantage.

Only Celta Vigo had other ideas and they would bag themselves a deserved equaliser late on, this time it was Wass who would turn provider for the equaliser, with just eight minutes remaining his cross would be turned home by Maxi Gomez.

It could have been an even worse result for Real Madrid had Iago Aspas slotted home a penalty with his side 2-1 down, his effort was saved by Navas but it can still only be viewed as another two points dropped by Zinedine Zidane’s men.

Both teams had chances to win the game late on, but it would end with a share of the points and more questions being asked as to Zinedine Zidane’s long term future as manager of Real Madrid.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/celta-vigo-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/feed/016030Barcelona vs Levante – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-levante-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-levante-match-highlights/#respondMon, 08 Jan 2018 07:09:52 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=16024La Liga table toppers Barcelona celebrated their £142m capture of Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho in perfect fashion as they continued their unbeaten start to this La Liga campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou. Ernesto Valverde’s men have picked up where they left off after the Spanish Christmas break as …

]]>La Liga table toppers Barcelona celebrated their £142m capture of Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho in perfect fashion as they continued their unbeaten start to this La Liga campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde’s men have picked up where they left off after the Spanish Christmas break as they made light work of their opposition yesterday afternoon, with who else but Lionel Messi opening the scoring as early as the 12th minute.

It was neat build up play between the Argentine and teammate Jordi Alba that led to the opener, Messi first chipped the ball to the former Valencia defender and after receiving the ball back he then proceeded to volley the ball home and in turn break the deadlock.

It was another landmark day for Lionel Messi as this game marked his 400th La Liga appearance for the club, while during this quadruple century of games he has scored a staggering 365 goals, giving him a games to goals ratio of 0.81.

Not only that but it was a history making afternoon also as his 365th La Liga goal equalled Gerd Muller’s record for goals in a single one of Europe’s top five leagues. The records and accolades just continue to go in Messi’s direction don’t they.

Although he scored the opener there was plenty of time for two more goals. firstly Luis Suarez doubled the home side’s advantage before half time and subsequently all but wrapped up the three points for the Catalan giants as Levante continued to toil.

While both Messi and Suarez played a part in the game’s third and final goal in injury time, the latter having the intelligence to leave the former’s low pass in the area and Brazilian international Paulinho was on hand to put the exclamation point on the win.

Barcelona’s South American triumvirate combining perfectly as the league leaders keep their nine point advantage over Atletico Madrid in second, with Real Madrid still way back in fourth.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-levante-match-highlights/feed/016024Real Football Data – La Liga 2017/18 Shot Efficiency – Week 10http://realfootballman.com/football/real-football-data-la-liga-201718-shot-efficiency-week-10/
http://realfootballman.com/football/real-football-data-la-liga-201718-shot-efficiency-week-10/#respondSun, 05 Nov 2017 11:20:40 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=15050La Liga 2017/18 Shot Efficiency – Week 10 Ever wanted to know who the most efficient club in La Liga is right now in terms of shots vs goals?, even if you have not I now I have the answer for you. What I have done in the link above is calculate how many shots …

Ever wanted to know who the most efficient club in La Liga is right now in terms of shots vs goals?, even if you have not I now I have the answer for you. What I have done in the link above is calculate how many shots a team needs on average to score a goal. Basically I had an urge to do some data work in my off time and here are the fruits of my labour.

In doing this we can then see who is the most ruthless in front of goal and which clubs are the most wasteful, not only that though we can also look at the variance between the teams ranking in the efficiency charts and their placing in the league table after Week 10.

Here we can then look at clubs which are perhaps efficient in front of goal but have a poor league position or perhaps clubs that need fewer chances in front of goal but their league position does not reflect how effective they are when it really matters.

The long term plan (and they are always plans at this time due to a combination of time and financial factors) is to track this week but not just in La Liga but also across the five major leagues across Europe to see who is the most ruthless team on the continent.

That way we have a lot of data to compare and contrast against as the season unfolds, I think this first piece should certainly make for interesting reading and obviously these are metrics that will fluctuate as the season’s unfolds over the next few weeks and months.

I hope this is of interest to you and if you have any football data work available then please contact me at realfootballmanwordpress@gmail.com as I am always looking to undertake additional projects to the ones I already have. Thanks, Dan.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/real-football-data-la-liga-201718-shot-efficiency-week-10/feed/015050Barcelona vs Sevilla – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-sevilla-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-sevilla-match-highlights/#respondSun, 05 Nov 2017 08:30:24 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=15036Barcelona maintained their four point lead at the top of La Liga with a hard fought win over Sevilla last night at the Nou Camp and it was not one of their usual heroes that will win the plaudits after a match winning brace made all the difference. Although Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were …

]]>Barcelona maintained their four point lead at the top of La Liga with a hard fought win over Sevilla last night at the Nou Camp and it was not one of their usual heroes that will win the plaudits after a match winning brace made all the difference.

Although Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were both playing last night it was the third member of the attacking trio that was on hand to break Sevilla hearts and that man was the former Valencia forward Paco Alcacer, the Spanish international has now scored three goals in five league and cup matches and he will be pressing for more regular inclusion after last night’s display.

He opened the scoring midway through the first half after latching onto a long through ball from Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan’s speculative pass split the Sevilla back line and Alcacer timed his run to perfection to then slot the ball home and break the deadlock.

Barcelona would go into the break 1-0 up but their advantage would be wiped out soon after the restart when Guido Pizarro headed home to silence the home fans in attendance. However it would be Alcacer who would be the hero of the hour.

Just six minutes after Sevilla had restored parity Barcelona would then find themselves ahead for the second time in the game, this time around Alcacer would turn poacher as he poked home a cross from Croatian international Ivan Rakitic.

With 25 minutes left of the game remaining Barcelona had to make sure that they did not throw their lead away for the second time but thankfully for Ernesto Valverde his players stood firm and once again made sure they have a four point lead of Valencia in second.

This win puts the Catalan giants 11 points ahead of Real Madrid although Los Blancos have a game in hand which they play in tonight when they face Las Palmas at the Bernabeu, quite frankly it is a game that they dare not lose after successive defeat across all competitions.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/barcelona-vs-sevilla-match-highlights/feed/015036Girona vs Real Madrid – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/girona-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/girona-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/#respondMon, 30 Oct 2017 07:13:10 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=14930Real Madrid’s hopes of defending their La Liga title could already be in tatters after a shock defeat yesterday afternoon and the hands of relative minnows Girona. Played among the backdrop of the ongoing Catalan independence row you could not have got a more symbolic victory if you tried. Football has a habit of writing …

]]>Real Madrid’s hopes of defending their La Liga title could already be in tatters after a shock defeat yesterday afternoon and the hands of relative minnows Girona. Played among the backdrop of the ongoing Catalan independence row you could not have got a more symbolic victory if you tried.

Football has a habit of writing momentous stories and Sunday was no different as the favourite club of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont earned themselves a historic as not just the footballing world but the wider community looked on.

Anyway enough of the geopolitics, time to focus on the game itself. It looked like it was going to be a routine aftenoon for Los Blancos as Isco gave Real Madrid the lead on 12 minutes. The Spanish international tapped home from close range and you would have every reason to think that they would be returning with all three points.

But with Zinedine Zidane’s men failing to add to their goal tally in the first half Girona were still very much in the game and came out after the restart full of belief. This would be no less apparent when nine minutes after the break they had drawn level.

The ex-Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani leveled proceedings and then made a contest of this encounter and just four minutes later the game would be turned on its head when Midfielder Portu back-heeled the ball into the net for what would prove to be the winner.

Girona had a nervy half hour or so as they had to keep Real Madrid at bay but they completed the task in hand to kickstart jubilant celebrations. For the current Champions League holders they are now 8 points behind Barcelona and now travel to Wembley to face Tottenham on Wednesday night.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/girona-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/feed/014930Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/athletic-bilbao-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/athletic-bilbao-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/#respondSun, 29 Oct 2017 08:41:04 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=14907Barcelona continued their unbeaten start to the season last night with win in the Basque region against Athletic Bilbao, after the goings on at a political level what with all things Catalan independence the game last night would have come as a welcome distraction for fans and players alike. Lionel Messi was on hand to …

]]>Barcelona continued their unbeaten start to the season last night with win in the Basque region against Athletic Bilbao, after the goings on at a political level what with all things Catalan independence the game last night would have come as a welcome distraction for fans and players alike.

Lionel Messi was on hand to score his 12th league goal of the season but to be honest he should have made it a bakers dozen (13) after rounding Athletic’s keeper Kepa but somehow then going onto hit the post, that said it would be the Argentine who would break the deadlock on 36 minutes.

With the goal coming close to half time you would have felt that it would have given reason for Athletic’s heads to drop, to be honest it was far from it as they came out all guns blazing in the second half looking not just for one point but for all three.

Raul Garcia was unfortunate to his see his header rattle back off the bar while the evergreen Aritz Aduriz would see his effort well saved by Barcelona’s German international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Athletic threw everything forward in search of a goal but would then be subsequently punished late on.

With Athletic looking susceptible at the back it gave the perfect chance for Barcelona to pick them off and they did exactly that in injury time. The former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho slotted home in injury time to make sure all three points would be Barcelona’s.

Ernesto Valverde’s men now sit four points clear of Valencia in second with arch rivals Real Madrid eight points behind albeit with a game in hand. Barcelona will be hoping that their Catalan cousins Girona will do them a favour today and take points off of Real Madrid.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/athletic-bilbao-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/feed/014907Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/atletico-madrid-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/atletico-madrid-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/#respondSun, 15 Oct 2017 13:36:33 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=14757Barcelona have lost their one hundred percent record in La Liga last night as they needed Luis Suarez to rescue a point against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. It looked at one point as if Diego Simeone’s men would cut the gap at the top of La Liga to just three points but Barcelona …

]]>Barcelona have lost their one hundred percent record in La Liga last night as they needed Luis Suarez to rescue a point against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. It looked at one point as if Diego Simeone’s men would cut the gap at the top of La Liga to just three points but Barcelona and by extension Suarez had other ideas in mind.

The draw for Atletico subsequently means that they have been leapfrogged by their crosstown rivals Real Madrid into second place and now find themselves six points behind Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona outfit while now joint on points with Sevilla who dropped to fourth.

Atletico drew first blood thanks to Saul Niguez, it was a sumptuous 25 yard strike which nestled into the net much to the delight of the home fans who are still getting used to life away from the Vicente Calderon. It looked like it was going to be a magical night for those Atleti supporters.

Especially as it seemed that luck was also on their side as Lionel Messi struck the post with a free kick in the second half, with the clock ticking the game was slipping away from the Catalan giants but they did however manage to find their way back into the game.

With just eight minutes remaining Sergi Roberto floated in an inch perfect cross for Luis Suarez to connect to. The Uruguayan marksman rifled home a header to silence the majority of the stadium and ultimately give the league leaders a share of the points.

On balance a draw was probably the fair result. Atletico were the better team in the first half with Antoine Griezmann perhaps guilty of wasting the chances that were presented to him while Jan Oblak was certainly the busier keeper after the break. Both teams now move onto Champions League action in midweek.

]]>http://realfootballman.com/football/atletico-madrid-vs-barcelona-match-highlights/feed/014757Getafe vs Real Madrid – Match Highlightshttp://realfootballman.com/football/getafe-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/
http://realfootballman.com/football/getafe-vs-real-madrid-match-highlights/#respondSun, 15 Oct 2017 13:19:25 +0000http://realfootballman.com/?p=14754Real Madrid prepared for their Champions League clash in the best possible way with a win in their local derby with Getafe yesterday afternoon. It may have been a little closer than Zinedine Zidane would have liked but at the same time it has meant that they have closed the gap on Barcelona at the …

]]>Real Madrid prepared for their Champions League clash in the best possible way with a win in their local derby with Getafe yesterday afternoon. It may have been a little closer than Zinedine Zidane would have liked but at the same time it has meant that they have closed the gap on Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

It was a win that sees them move up to second place in the table also they are still five points behind Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona side and it was a victory that required Cristiano Ronaldo to score a late goal to break the hearts of Getafe fans.

Real who were without the injured Welsh international Gareth Bale took the lead after the half hour mark thanks to forward Karim Benzema. But after going into the break ahead, Los Blancos would not have it all their own way in the second half

That was due to the fact that Jorge Molina leveled proceedings 11 minutes after the restart. Kaylor Navas did not feature yesterday in goal for Real Madrid and it was Kiko Casilla that was left to pick the ball out of his net after Molina slid the ball past him to make it 1-1.

It looked like it was not going to be Real Madrid’s and by extension Cristiano Ronaldo’s day as he missed numerous chances throughout the game, but with just five minutes remaining he would have the final say in the game when he slotted home after neat work from Isco.

It was not a classic performance by Real Madrid yesterday by any stretch of the imagination but the same can be said for their opponents on Tuesday Tottenham in the Champions League. I think both teams will have just been glad to have ground out a narrow win with this titanic clash on the horizon.